Electric fly-killer.



Y ELECTRIC FLY KILLER.

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ROBERT B. IRVINE, v0]? BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

' ELECTRIC FLY-KILLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

4Application filed-March 2, 1914. Serial No. 821,945.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT B. IRVINE, a

citizen of the United States of America, re-

-scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in electric fly killers, and its object is to provide a device'of this character which will be simple in construction, effective in operation, which may be safely placed in any desirable location Without danger of transmitting electric shocks to persons coming in contact therewith, and to provide the device with various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in Which:-

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a device embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the positive and negative electrodes and their supporting bar; and Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively end views of the positive and negative electrodes.

Like numbers refer to like parts in all of the figures.

1 represents a hollow rectangular baseY toy the device which contains an electric induction coil 2, the current being supplied to this coil by the conductors 3 and 4.

A glass housing 5 is supported on the base 1 by brackets 6. This housing 5 preferably being arch-shaped and having a non-conducting bar 7 supported longitudinally in its upper part.

The positive and negative electrodes 8 and 9 are alternately arranged in axial aline-V are spaced apart there is normally no flow of current from one to the other.

A tube 14, in which is placed some form of bait which will attract flies and insects, is preferably located in the axis of the segments 8 and 9' and is supported by convenient means such as loops 15 depending from the supporting bar 7, and an opening is pro- `vided at one end of the housing 5 opposite the end of this tube through which the same may be conveniently Withdrawn for they purpose of replenishing the bait therein. The tube is perforated as indicated at 14.

A tray 16 is located beneath the segments 8 and 9 supported on the top of the base 1 and adapted to be withdrawn through an opening in the end of the housing 5. The housing is also provided 'with side openings 17 through which the flies pass when attracted by the bait in the container 14.

This fly killer is prepared for operation by connecting the conductors 3 and 4 to any convenient source of electric current, and after filling the container' 14 with suitable bait which Will attract flies and insects, the device is placed in an advantageous location preferably Where the light Will strike the bright parts thereof. The ies being attracted by the bait will enter the side openings 17 in the housing 5 and ily up- Ward toward the container 14. But as the container is surrounded by the electrodes 8 and 9 carrying the high voltage electric current from the induction coil 2, the flies will first strike these segments and upon traversing them in an attempt to get at the bait through the crevices therebetween, they will engage a positive and negative electrode, thus completing the electric circuit through their bodies whereupon they will be immediately electrocuted and Will drop into the tray 16.

It will be noted that this device is eX- tremely compact in arrangement, simple and cheap in construction, and attractive in appearance, and aside from its utility in exterminating flies and insects, it serves as a device of interesting experiment and instruction, and its operation may be clearly Watched through the glass housing 5 Without danger tothe observer of touching the electrodes 8 and 9 and receiving an electric shock.

What I clairnis:w

l. An electric fly killer comprisinga base containing an induction coil, means for supplying electric current to said coil, a glass housing supported on the base and provided with upper and lower openings in one end and an opening in one side, a tray removably supported on said base through the loiver opening in the end of the housing, a longitudinally disposed non-conducting supporting bar secured to the top of the housing within the latter, spaced hangers depending from said bar, a perforated body container removably supported in hangers and at one end projecting through said upper opening at one end of the housing, a positive and a negative plate arranged parallel and insulated from each other and supported on said non-conductingbar, positive and negative electrodes alternately arranged in embracing relation to the body container and having connection with the respective positive and negative plates, and electric conductors between the induction coil and said plates.

2. An electric ily killer comprising a base having an induction coil therein, means for supplying electric current to said coil, a housing supported on the base and provided With an opening'in one end, a longitudinally disposed non-conducting bar secured to the top of the housing within the same, a perforated bait container suspended in the housing from said bar and at one end project-ing through the opening in one end of the housing, positive and negative electrodes suspended from the bar in'embracing relation to said bait container and alternatcly arranged and spaced apart, and electric conductors from the coil to the electrodes.

3. In an electric fly killer, a base having an induction coil therein, brackets project ing laterally from the upperl edge of the base, a glass housing supported on the brackets and having an opening therein, a non-conducting supporting bar in the top of said housing, a positive anda negative plate fastened to said bar, positive and negative electrodes attached to the respective plates and alternately arranged and spaced apart, means for supplying a current to said plates, a hanger secured to said supporting bar and terminating within said electrodes and shielded thereby, a bait container supported by said hanger and insertible thro-ugh one end of the housing, and a receptacle removably supported on said base beneath the bait container.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT B. IRVINE. Witnesses:

EDWARD R. MONROE, FRANK C. LEARMAN. 

